By Shola Oladipo, Food for Purpose CEO 

It seems like ages since we had Summer, I hope you enjoyed it. Now it’s time to prepare for the cooler, crisper, hazy, orangey-brown beauty of Autumn, and pre-winter vibe.

For me, during this season; it feels natural to slow down a bit. As the leaves crinkle and brown, and sundown seems much sooner. I think of Autumn as a time for contemplation and patting myself on the back! Yes, I did say that, and you should too. Look at yourself in the mirror, tell yourself “Well done, you got this far.” The roller coaster of 2022 has taken us on several highs and lows, it’s been tough – but by the grace of God, we are still here.

Take time to pause and enjoy the beauty of Autumn. Remember the fall of old leaves is needed so we may rest and rise again with newness and vitality.

Blessings!

 Featured this Month

• CEO says

• News

• Recipe of the Month - Caribbean Stew Peas

• A-Z of Soul Food - D for Dasheen

• Exercising in the Colder Months

• Do you know your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes?

• Special Guest Contributor - Deaconess Karen Reeves-Toppin

• Miss Tea's Blog

 Food for Purpose News

• Diabetes myth-busting series:

  Our next online Diabetes myth busting event is on 17.11.2022 at 7pm, in commemoration of International Diabetes Day. Join us for an informative session, it’s free of charge but registration is needed.
  Click on the image below to register your place(s)

• HCI Update:

We are delighted to be working with Black churches in Lambeth and Bedfordshire! Visit our HCI page on FB and Instagram for more information about these projects or click on the image below for general details about HCI:

• FFP on TBN:

  Our CEO was invited to an interview with Matt Parfait. Watch this space for the video release!

• Cultural Humility:

  Do you know the difference between cultural humility and cultural competency? Join our online education sessions, or book specifically for your organisation.
  
  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/food-for-purpose-ffp-cic-in-partnership-with-bedford-borough-council-49087643933

  Check out this video on cultural humility!  

• Physical Activity:

  We need your views! What sports/activities do you think we should deliver for our communities? Please let us know by clicking on the image below and completing our super quick 3 question survey - thanks in advance for your time, we appreciate you!❤️

• National days / weeks in November

  • 1st – 30th Men's Health Awareness Month (Movember)

  • 7th – 11th International Stress Awareness Week

  • 14th – World Diabetes Day 2022

 Caribbean Stew Peas

This delicious Caribbean classic has variants from island to island. In this recipe we omitted the meat, to create an equally delicious vegan dish.

Spinners are simply dumplings in the shape of mini torpedoes or a slender cigar.  These dumplings are also known as "spinners and sinkers" because their long, tapered shape causes them to sink and spin while they cook, whereas traditional dumplings tend to bob and float.

Ingredients list

Spinners

• 100g Plain flour (sifted)

• 50 - 120ml cold water

• Pinch of salt (optional)

Stew peas

• 250g dried kidney beans (soaked overnight)

• 1 vegetable stock cube (small size)

• 5 crushed pimento berries

• 1 tin coconut milk

• 3 garlic cloves crushed

• 1 large red onion (chopped)

• 3 sprigs of thyme

• 5 spring onions (chopped)

• 2 large carrots (diced)

• 1 Scotch bonnet pepper (leave whole)

• 1 teaspoon salt

Method

Make the spinners first:

1. Add the flour to a medium-sized mixing bowl

2. Add water a little at a time and knead to form a firm dough

3. Leave your dough to rest for about 30 minutes

4. Separate dough into small pieces, and roll in your palm to form a cigar shape

5. Set your spinners aside

Now make the stew peas:

1. Wash the soaked beans until the water runs clear.

2. Add the beans to a large pot with 800 - 1000ml water. Add crushed pimento berries and vegetable stock cube. Cover and boil on medium heat for 30 -40 mins or until beans are cooked.

3. Add the coconut milk, garlic, onion, thyme, spring onion, carrot, scotch bonnet pepper. Add additional water (up to 300 - 500 ml water) depending on how thick you want your soup to be.

4. Cover the pot and bring to boil.

5. Add the spinners. Cover and cook on medium to low heat until the liquid reduces and the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.

6. Remove the scotch bonnet pepper and thyme before serving

Tips

• Substitute coconut milk with low-fat coconut milk, it lowers the fat by almost 50%

• Vary your vegetables by adding a bit of squash or pumpkin

• This dish can be frozen for up to 3 months

Recipe serves 4

Photo courtesy of the That Girl Cooks Healthy website:

https://thatgirlcookshealthy.com/jamaican-stew-peas/

 A-Z of Soul Food

This month, we’re celebrating Dasheen for the letter D

Dasheen

Also commonly known as taro, eddo, arrowroot or cocoyam. It is a food staple in Africa, the Caribbean, Oceanic and South Asia. Its edible corms (swollen stems) and leaves are usually consumed. It is a versatile ‘ground provision’ often boiled, fried (coco yam chips), mashed or roasted and eaten with a sauce in West Africa. In the Caribbean it is also used for making sweet puddings. Dasheen leaves are commonly used in making callaloo and many vegetable soups. These leaves are a good source of vitamins A and C and contain more protein than the corm.

 Exercising in the Colder Months

By Precious Oladipo, FFP Director & Fitness Lead

As the days get colder and shorter, you may find that it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the same physical activity regime that was doing your body some good back in the summer.

Fear not, as it isn’t all doom and gloom - there are ways to keep active in the cold (and dark) months!

Start at home

Where else better than to work out in the comfort of your own home. Do some bodyweight exercises or use weights or resistance bands if you have them at home. Make use of videos on the internet - dance aerobics, pilates, HIIT - there are plenty to choose from!

Keep warm

If you are going to work out outside (e.g., going for a jog), dress in layers. It is better to remove the layers as you get warmer than to be underdressed and run the risk of getting ill.

Stay safe

Be mindful of your route and opt for well-lit street. Wear reflective clothing so you can be seen if it starts to get dark

Adjust your schedule

If possible, adjust your workday so that you can go outside while it is still bright. Maybe you could start work later or go out on your lunch break - do what works for you.

Buddy up

Waking up when it’s still dark isn’t very motivating, is it? Having someone in your corner cheering you on will help to give you that extra boost. Grab a friend or family member and exercise with them. Time will fly by!

These are just a few tips for keeping active when it gets cold. Remember that physical activity will not only do you good physically but also mentally. Prioritise your mental health as shorter days can also be linked with low mood.

Don’t forget to stay hydrated, and have fun being active!

Do you know your risk of Type 2 Diabetes?

By Modupe Peters, FFP Director & Diabetes Lead

Do you know your risk of type 2 diabetes?

November 14 this year is world diabetes day, it is an important day in the diabetes calendar to raise awareness of diabetes all over the world

Nearly 90% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. It can come on slowly, and risk usually increases with age. The signs may not be obvious, or there may be no signs at all, and it could be up to 10 years before you find out you have it. Hence why it is important to know the diabetes risk factors.

Risk factors

• Risk increases with age, over 40 in the white population and over 25 in the African Caribbean, Black African, and South Asian population

• You are two – six times more likely to have type 2 diabetes if you have a parent, brother, sister or child with diabetes

• You are two to four times more likely to have diabetes if you are of African-Caribbean, Black African, and South Asian descent

• You are more at risk if you have ever had high blood pressure

• You are more at risk if you carry extra weight, particularly around the middle

You can find out your risk of type 2 diabetes by using the risk assessment score on the diabetes UK website:
https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/start

Please do join us for our diabetes event on 17th November at 7pm, on Diabetes & Medication Compliance in the BAME Population

 Special Guest Contributor

Karen Reeves-Toppin, Artistic Entrepreneur

Christ, food and music. These were three important pillars of my life as I was growing up.

Born in the UK to Barbadian parents, I spent most of my formative years on the beautiful island. Both my parents are Christian, and I’ve allowed myself to be found and anchored in Christ. My Dad is a Chemistry major with a Food Technologist qualification. I watched him start and maintain his food processing company until my late teen years. His passion for seeing people have proper meals that were easy to prepare and cost effective has stayed with me for all my life.

My Mum was a healthcare professional who is also a food afficionado. She loves to cook and has passed this passion down to myself and siblings. My true love in the kitchen is baking, but I can hold my own with meal prep. At 13 yrs old, I was diagnosed as multi allergic to a multitude of foods,and other things including simple items like tomato, cheese, milk, eggs. This disadvantaged me everywhere – but not at home. Mum found a way to bake eggless cake, cheeseless macaroni pie and numerous other work arounds. Now I too experiment and change things up in the kitchen as I’m cooking, and our son at 12 years old is doing the same with our encouragement. We’re passing down the heritage.

For me it’s important to get the message out that you need not be ‘stuck’ with food prep. Putting foods together can be as diverse as putting colours together. Even if you’re limited by allergies or other conditions, your menu can still be varied, healthy and delicious. I’m living proof.

Music is where I found myself truly. From 4 years old, my parents encouraged me to sing in church and at school. My junior years were spent honing my soprano voice developing my ear to hear and sing all parts – including bass! At 16 I won my first national singing competition and was a part of 3 other award winning groups in the same competition.

I spent a lot of time in church choir watching my Dad teach for many years. Then one day, when I was around 17 or so, he said it was my turn. Leadership with compassion and being hospitable to people came almost naturally to me as I had seen it exemplified all my life. Due to this the church organist at the time invited me to accompany him to teach & direct the various choirs he was working with.

All this background has helped to shape the person I am today – a Christian; an entrepreneur, a food and music lover.

Currently, my role as Choir Director/Manager of We Can Sing CIC – Medway community choir is fulfilling and I’m doing part of what I love! Choir members are from different walks of life and different areas of Medway, but all agree that choir is a place of refreshing and enjoyment. It uplifts the spirit, renews the mind and some have even said it helps them balance their mental health and well-being. Choir loves when we have a party and I bake. Their favourite items? Bajan Rum Cake and Bajan Coconut bread.

Being on the advisory panel for FFP for me is a joy and an opportunity to have a voice in making a difference to families and wider communities. It also hits home for me as I’m currently full-time carer for my Mum who is aged, poly-medicinal and diabetic.

Other things I do:

As Karen:

I work alongside a CIC called Xpressions as a classically trained singer with over 30 years’ experience of soloist performance and group teaching. Xpressions is opening doors for young singers and musicians in London and Kent to have a platform to perform and give access to industry professionals for positive advice and guidance.

I’m contracted as a Specialist note taker for disabled students at university level and am a trained guide for the blind.

I’m a daughter, wife, Mum of one and sibling of 2; Soloist, worship leader and support singer to MJ Praise Ministries.

Karen Reeves-Toppin (@karenreevestoppin) • Instagram photos and videos

As founder of Kay’s Kreationz:

I am a Balloon Specialist Event Decorator and take pride and pleasure in seeing clients overjoyed with the décor installed for their various events.

www.kayskreationz.weebly.com

www.facebook.com/kayskreationzuk

www.instagram.com/kreationzkays

As founder of KI Inspirationz:

My work as a Small Business Consultant sees me talking with and guiding persons who have a business idea through from inception to manifestation.

KI Inspirationz - Business Consultant in Chatham (ki-inspirationz.co.uk)

 Miss Tea's Blog

Goody Bag

Greetings, PY fans!  How is everyone doing? 🥰 It's starting to get a bit colder now - in stark contrast to the heatwave we were experiencing last time we spoke.  Hope you're keeping nice and warm wherever you are and whatever you’re doing🧣🍵

Here's a new goodie bag for you - hope you all enjoy it 😎